Finally, a New Testament church is one which exhibits the life of Jesus Christ to the world. A teacher. Our calling is our responsibility to respond to what we have become in Christ. 4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. As you read through the book, there are quite a few words that you want to look out for to help you understand the main points (to keep track of them all, I recommend you use this Bible study method). Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Unity is a gift from God. It’s used nine times. Ephesians chapter 4. Text: Ephesians 4, 1-6. I love this approach! See if you can find it all 31 times that it’s used through the book of Ephesians and then look at how this little word changes everything. Ephesians explains it all and gives hope for unity within the Church. It may subsist, therefore, between persons of different nations, educations, conditions, etc. You may walk away with a few questions, but they wouldn’t be anything that a trustworthy commentary or a quick chat with your pastor or a Christian mentor couldn’t answer. EPHESIANS 4:1-16 We now start chapters 4-6 of Ephesians which have to do with how we live the Christian life, God’s work through us. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) as each part does its work. Peace- Where exactly does peace come from and how do we get it? The Unity of the Church, or Walk Worthy of the Calling As you start this study, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what God has said through Paul. 7 But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. How can we or anyone derive their name from God? Thank you! Walk worthy, humility, meekness, patience and forbearance. What Does Ephesians 4:3 Mean? As you trace this word through the book, take note of exactly how love is supposed to affect your relationships, both with people and with God. Ready to ditch your differences and work together for the glory of God? Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. The \"secret call\" of the preacher or pastor does not make him or her more called than the carpenter . Ephesians 4:1-6 The church of Jesus Christ is truly unique: It is composed of people from countless backgrounds, who have a variety of opinions on many different topics—yet they are one in Christ. being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. While there is room for disagreement within the church on nonessential matters, the gospel truth of Christ’s reconciliation is the only basis for unity in this age or the next. Don’t believe me? 1Co 12:28; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 2Pe 3:2; Jude 17, S Ac 11:27; Ro 12:6; 1Co 12:10, 28; 13:2, 8; 14:1, 39; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 2Pe 3:2, Ac 13:1; Ro 2:21; 12:7; 1Co 12:28; 14:26; 1Ti 1:7; Jas 3:1, ver 25, 31; Col 3:5, 8, 9; Jas 1:21; 1Pe 2:1, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Luke, Comfort Print, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Acts, Comfort Print, NIV, Quest Study Bible, Comfort Print: The Only Q and A Study Bible, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Romans, Comfort Print, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture. It’s absolutely packed with life-changing information like: What should I look for when I study Ephesians? There are not two spirits leading … And as of a l, The very best Thanksgivings are spent wandering th, Happy National Dog day from my furry bundles of ch, In case you were wondering, this is what a perfect, Full cart Full heart 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father … Does anyone else feel like life never goes the way, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at, This lady. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 … My hope and prayer is that God will use this book to transform your life the same way that He has mine! In Ephesians 2, Paul explains how unity comes as a result of salvation. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(BL) with whom you were sealed(BM) for the day of redemption. 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (BB), 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4 King James Version (KJV). Looking to add a little more beauty and humor to your everyday? Ephesians 4 NIV - Unity and Maturity in the Body of - Bible Gateway. Grab your Bible and turn to Ephesians 1. Now, the church is to preserve peace and unity with one another (Eph 4:3). All believers are the called of God. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. This book is so jam packed full of God’s love and grace it makes me want to stand up and do a happy dance. You’ll be glad you did. In the bond of peace; i.e. Searching to find out who you are? (BD) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]:(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. I would love for you to share my content, but please be aware that all text and images on this site are the property of The Everyday Aesthetic. This first Bible profile is on the book of Ephesians simply because it is my absolute favorite epistle (letter). 5. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Although the world would have us be divided by race, gender, social status, and culture, God makes it pretty clear that we are one. (BF) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need. Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:1-16) Introduction. Amen. 2. I hope this helps you better understand the book of Ephesians! All – this little three letter word has HUGE implications for your life. ». Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. Unity glorifies God and attracts unbelievers. It’s the first book of the Bible that I ever studied by myself and it totally changed me. What do I need to know before I read Ephesians? How can we actively fight Satan? 4 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, [] urge you to live [] worthily of the calling with which you have been called, [] 2 with all humility and gentleness, [] with patience, putting up with [] one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Enter your name and email to receive a notification whenever there's a new post. 4. These two verses list seven attitudes that you need to personally have in order to walk in unity. 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we all belong to God’s family and have a … Your email address will not be published. God has called us to live in peace and unity as much as possible in this fallen world. For what reason? Grace- This is a buzz word in Christianity today, Look at the 11 different times it’s mentioned in Ephesians and try and find out. Paul wrote Ephesians to be clear and simple, so you don’t have too much guesswork involved. How to Change- We all know that we have growing to do, but how exactly are we supposed to gain victory over out biggest sin struggles? The unity of the Spirit; either unity of mind, or spiritual unity, as being wrought by the Spirit, and then he means that unity he spoke of, Ephesians 2:14-16, and Ephesians 3:6, whereby is intended the mystical body of Christ. Ephesians 4 New English Translation (NET Bible) Live in Unity. Upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus, and take your Bible knowledge to a new level this year! Want to know more about the Everyday Aesthetic? 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (AO) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(AP) and separated from the life of God(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Glory- This is a key work to helping you understand the book of Ephesians and your purpose in life. How to Stand Firm- There is a huge difference between the way the world works and the way that God says His people should live. 4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The "unity of the Spirit," of which the apostle speaks, it should be observed, is an internal unity, an unity between the spirits of men. 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(AV) your old self,(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AX) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AY) 24 and to put on(AZ) the new self,(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:3(NASB) Verse Thoughts. Filled/Full,- If you live your life feeling empty or like your missing something then this is definitely a theme you’ll want to look into. (G) 4 There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); 5 one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M). Ephesians 4:2-3. with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 3. (Some of my othe. Ephesians explains it all and gives hope for unity within the Church. Identity- Ephesians contrasts who you were before you were saved (ch 2) with the believer’s new identity once she has become a Christian. Unity does not mean uniformity. Ephesians 4:4-6 - Essentials of Unity (Foundational truths of unity) Ephesians 2:11 : What is a command Paul gave in the first 3 chapters that should serve as a strong motivator of a worthy walk? Ephesians 4 New King James Version (NKJV) Walk in Unity. "The unity of the Spirit" is equivalent to the unity of which the Spirit is the Author. It is an unity of affection — mutual love, viz., desire of, and delight in, each other — mutual sympathy. (BN) 31 Get rid of(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. – Eph 3:21. Required fields are marked *. In the book of Ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers' everyday lives. Ephesians 4 English Standard Version (ESV) Unity in the Body of Christ. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians has you covered. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Love. What does verse 15 mean? All freebies are for personal use only. 4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I started through Ephesians this morning. (BI), 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. We are studying Ephesians at our Wednesday night Bible study. Click Here. (AR) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(AS) they have given themselves over(AT) to sensuality(AU) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God" (Ephesians 2:1-22). Jesus has given his church an abundance of gifts. Level of Difficulty: Easy. But we strive for it. If not, what is he doing? New International Version. 6. Already learning so much! Remember - ( Present imperative = command to continually do this) we were far off, spiritually dead, Christless, hopeless, godless, etc. We, as the people of God, are animated by one Spirit. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Right at the beginning, as Paul is talking all about the identity of believers, he repeatedly mentions the goal of life. She’s a mom. We have said that a New Testament church is one that derives its doctrines from the New Testament. Little did the world know that the question has already been answered in the book of Ephesians. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, What is Theology and Why Does It Matter? Thanks for the other words to study also. 14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Feel free to use images as long as you link them back to my original post, but do not edit, crop, or remove any watermarks from them unless you have obtained written permission from me. 4 I, therefore, the prisoner [] of the Lord, [] beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Want to keep up with what's going on here at T.E.A.? (E) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There isn’t much that a Christian needs to know that isn’t in the book of Ephesians. Searching for purpose? Paul says “for this reason I bow my knees…”. 3. Your email address will not be published. Now the sermon, Unity (Part 3): Ephesians 4 was heading toward more practical applications of the process that produces unity and peace, because up until that part of that sermon, we were considering things that some might call theoretical. 8 This is why it[a] says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives(Q) and gave gifts to his people.”[b](R), 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? Another major theme in Ephesians is the keeping of Christ's body (that is, the Church) pure and holy. .Thematically, Ephesians 4 moves from one's calling to unity to one's calling to ministry (all are called to ministry = part of the one hope of your calling). 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love. Paul knew that unity in the body of Christ can be threatened from without and destroyed from within. Every believer has been called to be Jesus' disciple and to serve in the body of Christ.All are called of God. in peace as the bond which keeps the members or parts of the church together, which by dissensions are dissipated and scattered. In all in whom he works savingly, the Spirit produces a certain oneness in faith, in repentance, in knowledge, in their views of sin, grace, Christ, the world, etc. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan. As Ephesians 4:13 intimates, we won’t reach full Christian unity until we attain “to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” So we probably won’t fully realize Christian unity in this world. Type in your name and email below to keep up with all that's going on here on T.E.A.! Pinning is always welcome and appreciated. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. What is the main point of 14-21? In fact, a huge chunk of the first chapter is all about the amazing benefits that are in someone’s life once they are a part of the family of God. But where and how do we find strength to stand against the pressure of a culture that is, at its core, anti-God? Unity- Even Christians struggle to get along. Unity depends on grace and gifts. Look for this word as you read through the book to find out. These will lead to submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord. Hello all! Ephesians 4:13-15King James Version (KJV) 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. New International Version (NIV). NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. . The unity that faith in Christ brings extends God’s love on earth and demonstrates the truth of who Jesus is. All rights reserved worldwide. Ephesians lays out God’s plan for true, lasting change. Grab your Bible, turn to Ephesians, and find out. 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